An open ecosystem approach with integrated diabetes management solutions addresses clinical inertia and promotes the achievement of more time in range.

Vienna, Austria (February 14, 2018) - Despite all technological innovations of the past years, still only 6.5% of people living with diabetes in Europe are able to achieve their individual therapy targets. Research shows that this can mainly be attributed to multiple factors described as clinical inertia, which includes patient, physician and system-related factors such as e.g. disease denial, medication issues, depression, poor health literacy, too little time in the doctor’s office or poor communication.4 Experts reckon clinical inertia to contribute to people with diabetes living with suboptimal glycemic control for many years, with dramatic consequences in terms of quality of life, morbidity and mortality. This also has a huge impact on the healthcare system due to the high costs associated with uncontrolled diabetes.5

“As multiple factors are involved when it comes to clinical inertia, potential solutions require a combination of approaches involving fundamental changes in how care is being provided,” explains Dr. Jörg Hölzing, Global Head of Strategy, Marketing & Portfolio Management at Roche Diabetes Care on the occasion of the 11th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) in Vienna, Austria. “This includes the adoption of a structured, personalised therapy approach which the PDM ProValue study program has demonstrated to be effective, as well as decision support for people with diabetes and physicians to account for the complex considerations influencing the daily therapeutic decisions.”

The PDM-ProValue study program was conducted with more than 900 patients treated in diabetes specialist and general medical practices in Germany. The results of this prospective, controlled and cluster-randomised study are of high relevance for both healthcare professionals and people with diabetes as they underline efficiency and effectiveness of the structured integrated Personalised Diabetes Management (iPDM) concept: HbA1c was lowered significantly by 0.5% in the iPDM group over the 12-months study duration (p<0.0001). This reduction in HbA1c is comparable to medical therapy and was significantly more pronounced than in the control group (0.3%, p<0.0001). Despite marked HbA1c reduction the incidence of hypoglycemic episodes (blood glucose level <70 mg/dl) also remained nearly unchanged over time. “Personalised Diabetes Management is a systematic process centered around the physician-patient interaction,” explained Prof. Bernhard Kulzer, Diabetes Center Mergentheim, Bad Mergentheim, Germany. “The frequent visualisation of the achieved therapy outcomes by means of low-threshold digital solutions result in considerably more and earlier therapy adjustments – pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological. This improves the glycemic control but also secondary outcome parameters.”

Such seamless connection of all stakeholders and thus improved physician-patient interaction as well as the integration of innovative solutions into an open ecosystem is expected to become instrumental in addressing clinical inertia and helping people with diabetes to achieve more time in their target range. “With our solutions offered within our open ecosystem, we aim to facilitate the collection, contextualisation and analysis of disease relevant data to support treatment decisions, prevent or delay disease progression,” explained Tim Jürgens, Global Head of Roche Diabetes Care Health Solutions & Services. The Roche Diabetes Care ecosystem does not only integrate physical products like blood glucose meters, continuous glucose monitoring solutions, connected insulin pens or pumps but also digitally enabled coaching and prescription services. In addition, it connects all stakeholders involved in the diabetes therapy.

To be able to improve overall glycemic control, especially in insulin-dependent people with diabetes, it is imperative to extend available glucose data and information to both patients and physicians. For example, now there is a new Eversense XL CGM System that can provide continuous readings up to 180 days. According to Prof. Steven Russell, Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston (MA), USA, diabetes therapy can be revolutionized if more automated glycemic control but that, “Artificial pancreas devices are dependent on accurate continuous glucose monitoring data. The accuracy and reliability of the Eversense system, as demonstrated in our recent investigator initiated trial, makes it a good candidate for becoming part of artificial pancreas systems.”

“Addressing the multiple challenges in diabetes management worldwide and clinical inertia in particular is a huge task. But we believe that by combining our solutions with the iPDM concept we can effectively respond to all stakeholder needs and drive optimal care as well as advanced outcomes. As we broaden the access to innovative technology like the Eversense XL system or the mySugr solution and integrate them into our ecosystem, we address the most pressing needs of people with diabetes and their caregivers in daily therapy management and contribute to a better, more sustainable and effective care provision in the future ,” concluded Dr. Jörg Hölzing.

Roche Diabetes Care has been a pioneer in providing innovation in diabetes technology and services for more than 40 years, helping people with diabetes to live their lives as active and unrestricted as possible. Being a global leader in diabetes management, more than 5,000 employees in over 150 markets worldwide work every day to support people with diabetes and those at risk, caregivers and healthcare providers to optimally manage the condition – and more importantly achieve more time in the target range so they can experience true relief. Under the brand Accu-Chek and in collaboration with partners, Roche Diabetes Care creates value by providing integrated diabetes management solutions to monitor glucose levels, deliver insulin and track relevant data points for successful glucose management. By establishing a leading open digital platform, connecting devices and digital solutions, Roche Diabetes Care will enable personalised diabetes care and thus improve therapy outcomes.

Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. Thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Roche has been recognised as the Group Leader in sustainability within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry nine years in a row by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2017 employed about 94,000 people worldwide. In 2017, Roche invested CHF 10.4 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 53.3 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.